Postal Service Inspector General Conducting Probe Into New Policies Under Trump Ally Louis DeJoy

The Postal Service inspector general is conducting a probe of controversial new policies implemented under new postmaster and Trump megadonor Louis DeJoy, CNN reported late Friday. DeJoy’s compliance with federal ethics rules is also being investigated, after concerns were raised by congressional Democrats last week.

"We have initiated a body of work to address the concerns raised, but cannot comment on the details,” Agapi Doulaveris, a spokeswoman for the USPS watchdog, told the news outlet in an email.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., along with other top Democrats, wrote a letter to the inspector general last week calling for an investigation into new policies under DeJoy that have resulted in "slower and less reliable” mail delivery. This "threatens the well-being of millions of Americans that rely on the Postal Service for delivery of Social Security checks, prescriptions, and everyday mail of all kinds,” the letter says.

DeJoy, a businessman and Republican Party fundraiser, began his stint as postmaster general in June. DeJoy and his wife have $30.1 million and $75.3 million in USPS competitors or contractors, creating a possible conflict of interest.

As postmaster general, DeJoy has implemented new “cost-cutting” measures to breathe new life into what he calls “broken business model.” He has banned overtime for postal workers, and called for late-arriving mail to be left behind and delivered the following day.

Yet, these new measures could create a major issue for this year’s election, where millions of people are expected to vote by mail amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The USPS has warned election officials in 46 states and Washington D.C. that it cannot guarantee that every mail-in ballot will be delivered in time to be counted for November’s election, prompting outcry from figures such as former President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

Recent polling suggests that Democrats are more likely to vote by mail in this year’s election, as President Trump has frequently claimed without evidence that mail-in ballots would cause voter fraud. Critics believe DeJoy’s new policies are ultimately a scheme to disenfranchise voters and deliver the election to Trump.

DeJoy recently met with Trump on Aug. 3 amid the ongoing attacks on mail-in voting. The White House has claimed it was a “congratulatory meeting.”

During a press conference at his Bedminster golf club on Aug. 9, Trump said he had not recently spoken with DeJoy.

"Well, I didn't speak to the Postmaster General of the Post Office. I know this: He's a very good businessman. He's very successful. And I know he wants to make the Post Office at least somewhat lose a lot less money than -- they've lost so much money over the decade. Nobody has ever -- nothing loses money like the Post Office. And he wants to make it successful," Trump said. "Let's see what he can do."

DeJoy is expected to appear at a hearing on Sept. 17 before the House Oversight Committee to discuss recent operational changes at the USPS and the slowdown in mail delivery.